Ontwerp met vazen en gevleugeld hoofd 1724 - 1754

Balthasar Sigmund Setletzky designed this print of vases and a winged head, but we aren’t sure when. The design gives an insight into the world of the 18th century artisan, showing us the kind of objects they were thinking about and the visual language they used. Made in the German lands, this aesthetic was typical across Europe, where classically inspired motifs were being revived in fanciful ways. Note the cherubic head and acanthus leaves combined with other strange, imaginary creatures. Such images would have been part of the visual vocabulary available to carvers and sculptors, and a pattern book from which wealthy clients might select the designs for their homes. To understand the place of images like this, one might look to period interiors, auction catalogs, and other prints. What can the circulation of ornament tell us about 18th century society?